Journey – Greatest Hits 2 (review)

Journey, the band that defined arena rock in the 80’s, is back with a companion volume to their hugely successful Greatest Hits album, fittingly titled Greatest Hits Volume 2. While the timing seems curious – the original collection was released 23 years ago – there were still a handful of hits left to be anthologized, and that’s where the second volume comes in. GH2 is essentially a clearinghouse for the group’s lower charting pop singles and album rock tracks that didn’t make the cut the first time around. With a few exceptions, almost every remaining single the band released in its heyday is here – “Anytime,” “After the Fall,” “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love),” and “Still They Ride” among them.

Also featured is the classic Escape album cut “Stone in Love,” a longtime fan favorite. Even though many of these songs may not be as immediately recognizable as other Journey radio staples, they don’t feel like leftovers, but rather showcase an alternate side of the hit-making powerhouse. For fans of the first GH collection, Volume 2 will bring back fond memories of Journey’s big rock hooks with these forgotten treasures. Greatest Hits Volume 2 is also available in a two-disc edition, including a recently upgraded version of the original 1988 GH set.